Gain scaling of short-wavelength plasma-recombination lasers
Abstract
The theoretical Z-to-the-7.5-power dependence of the small-signal gain of plasma-recombination lasers on the ionization stage Z of the laser species, while implying a straightforward development of short-wavelength lasers, is thought to be significantly larger than the experimentally achieved gain scaling. A new analysis, which incorporates a simple experimental parameter representing the efficiency of populating the upper level at a given plasma electron density, gives a gain scaling with ionization state (Z to the 4.5 power) that is more consistent with experiments. It also reveals the need for better experimental control of the ion-production and electron-ion-recombination processes in attempting to construct lasers of this type.
- Publication:
-
Optics Letters
- Pub Date:
- March 1983
- DOI:
- 10.1364/OL.8.000169
- Bibcode:
- 1983OptL....8..169S
- Keywords:
-
- Electron Plasma;
- Electron-Ion Recombination;
- Hydrogen Plasma;
- Laser Plasma Interactions;
- Power Gain;
- Scaling Laws;
- Atomic Energy Levels;
- Ionization Potentials;
- Plasma Density;
- Population Inversion;
- Lasers and Masers